Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What livestock are covered by this unit?
Livestock may include beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Livestock condition may be assessed by weighing, condition scoring, body condition, lactation stage, milk yield, and Livestock Market Reporting System (LMRS).

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
SOP, industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and managers oral or written instructions.

What information may be included in a feeding plan?
Feeding plans may include information with regard to seasonal supplementary feeding pattern, fodder conservation plan, feed purchases, drought reserves, minimum livestock condition levels, production requirements, and use of agistment.

What feeding methods may be implemented?
Feeding methods may include staged introduction of grain feeding, feeding grain on the ground or in troughs, access to water, allowing adequate time to change over feedstuffs, ad lib feeding, restriction of movement, gradual introduction to feedstuffs, and strip grazing.

What feed problems may be identified?
Feed problems may include introduction of weeds, chemical residues, trampling losses, grain poisoning, curtailed or shortened lactation, mis-mothering, and scouring.

Which criteria can be used to assess production targets?
Measurable criteria may include growth rates, sale weights, milk production, the growth/weight of calves, lambs and/or kids, and the pregnancy status of dairy cows and heifers.

What may be involved in supplementary feeding?
This may involve identifying livestock condition and matching appropriate supplementary feedstuffs, identifying feed nutrient values, identifying purchased feed problems such as weed seed, and determining rates and frequency of feeding.

What feed conservation methods may be identified?
Feed conservation may include cutting hay or silage, feeding crops, irrigation, harvesting grain, standing pasture, and pasture/hay setting.

What conditions may be identified as abnormal?
Abnormal conditions may include destruction of fodder caused by fire, flood, drought, frost, insects, cyclones, hail and snow.

Are financial indicators the only component of a cost benefit analysis?
Costs and benefits are considered in terms of all impacts on the performance of the business, and must include animal welfare, environmental, and OHS issues, as well as the financial ones.

What components are there in a feeding system?
The system will include the locations and times for grazing, and the types and quantities of supplementary feeding.

What parameters can be used to measure the effectiveness of the feeding plan?
These parameters are the health and condition of the animals, the health and condition of the pasture, the financial cost to the business, and the productivity of the business.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
livestock handling including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
machinery and vehicle safety when feeding out
feed materials handling systems and procedures to reduce risk associated with organic dusts
use of relevant personal protective equipment.

What livestock are covered by this unit?
Livestock may include beef and dairy cattle, sheep and goats.

How might livestock condition be assessed?
Livestock condition may be assessed by weighing, condition scoring, body condition, lactation stage, milk yield, and Livestock Market Reporting System (LMRS).

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
SOP, industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and managers oral or written instructions.

What information may be included in a feeding plan?
Feeding plans may include information with regard to seasonal supplementary feeding pattern, fodder conservation plan, feed purchases, drought reserves, minimum livestock condition levels, production requirements, and use of agistment.

What feeding methods may be implemented?
Feeding methods may include staged introduction of grain feeding, feeding grain on the ground or in troughs, access to water, allowing adequate time to change over feedstuffs, ad lib feeding, restriction of movement, gradual introduction to feedstuffs, and strip grazing.

What feed problems may be identified?
Feed problems may include introduction of weeds, chemical residues, trampling losses, grain poisoning, curtailed or shortened lactation, mis-mothering, and scouring.

Which criteria can be used to assess production targets?
Measurable criteria may include growth rates, sale weights, milk production, the growth/weight of calves, lambs and/or kids, and the pregnancy status of dairy cows and heifers.

What may be involved in supplementary feeding?
This may involve identifying livestock condition and matching appropriate supplementary feedstuffs, identifying feed nutrient values, identifying purchased feed problems such as weed seed, and determining rates and frequency of feeding.

What feed conservation methods may be identified?
Feed conservation may include cutting hay or silage, feeding crops, irrigation, harvesting grain, standing pasture, and pasture/hay setting.

What conditions may be identified as abnormal?
Abnormal conditions may include destruction of fodder caused by fire, flood, drought, frost, insects, cyclones, hail and snow.

Are financial indicators the only component of a cost benefit analysis?
Costs and benefits are considered in terms of all impacts on the performance of the business, and must include animal welfare, environmental, and OHS issues, as well as the financial ones.

What components are there in a feeding system?
The system will include the locations and times for grazing, and the types and quantities of supplementary feeding.

What parameters can be used to measure the effectiveness of the feeding plan?
These parameters are the health and condition of the animals, the health and condition of the pasture, the financial cost to the business, and the productivity of the business.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
livestock handling including zoonoses control
manual handling including lifting and carrying
machinery and vehicle safety when feeding out
feed materials handling systems and procedures to reduce risk associated with organic dusts
use of relevant personal protective equipment.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in planning the feeding of livestock requires evidence that the available pasture is effectively grazed, and that the herd/flock remains within the optimum range of health established within the business.
The skills and knowledge required to plan the feeding of livestock must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this may include different animals, breeds, enterprises and environmental conditions.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

the nutrient and feeding requirements of a range of livestock
indicators to monitor the level of feeding
different types of agricultural feeds
the factors that affect feed supply and demand for a farming operation
management practices which maximise pasture growth and quality to best match herd/flock feed requirements
the purpose of feed conservation in relation to enterprise feed supply and livestock requirements
different types of pasture grazing systems, e.g. rotation, strip or block grazing
ways of determining a feed surplus
the effects of feed conservation on soil fertility and pasture regrowth
the role of subdivision in effective pasture and animal management
different supplementary feeding options for livestock
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business and to pasture management
nutrient values of pasture and supplementary feedstuffs
nutritive disorders in livestock and preventative measures
enterprise livestock identification systems
OHS legislative requirements
codes of practice with regard to animal welfare and environmental protection.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills are the ability to:

assess pasture health and condition
assess herd/flock health and condition
develop, implement and modify feeding plans
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications
calculate and manipulate data when estimating and predicting supplementary feed requirements
prepare written plans including scheduling for the acquisition and supply of supplementary feed for implementation by others
purchase feed and maintain enterprise budgetary constraints
handle livestock with due care
identify livestock nutritional requirements
read and interpret feeding plan
communicate with property personnel and suppliers
estimate and calculate livestock feed capacity and requirements, and calculate feed costings.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

the nutrient and feeding requirements of a range of livestock
indicators to monitor the level of feeding
different types of agricultural feeds
the factors that affect feed supply and demand for a farming operation
management practices which maximise pasture growth and quality to best match herd/flock feed requirements
the purpose of feed conservation in relation to enterprise feed supply and livestock requirements
different types of pasture grazing systems, e.g. rotation, strip or block grazing
ways of determining a feed surplus
the effects of feed conservation on soil fertility and pasture regrowth
the role of subdivision in effective pasture and animal management
different supplementary feeding options for livestock
environmental controls and codes of practice applicable to the business and to pasture management
nutrient values of pasture and supplementary feedstuffs
nutritive disorders in livestock and preventative measures
enterprise livestock identification systems
OHS legislative requirements
codes of practice with regard to animal welfare and environmental protection.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills are the ability to:

assess pasture health and condition
assess herd/flock health and condition
develop, implement and modify feeding plans
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications
calculate and manipulate data when estimating and predicting supplementary feed requirements
prepare written plans including scheduling for the acquisition and supply of supplementary feed for implementation by others
purchase feed and maintain enterprise budgetary constraints
handle livestock with due care
identify livestock nutritional requirements
read and interpret feeding plan
communicate with property personnel and suppliers
estimate and calculate livestock feed capacity and requirements, and calculate feed costings.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
By preparing written plans that may be implemented by other people. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
By preparing written plans that may be implemented by other people. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
In assessing the health and condition of both the herd/flock and pasture. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
In assessing the health and condition of both the herd/flock and pasture. (2)

Planning and organising activities
In planning for and implementing feeding plans for livestock. (2)

Planning and organising activities
In planning for and implementing feeding plans for livestock. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working with others to ensure that animal health assessments are correct. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working with others to ensure that animal health assessments are correct. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In estimating and calculating the required supplementary feed requirements and quantities. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In estimating and calculating the required supplementary feed requirements and quantities. (2)

Solving problems
In recognising where corrective action is required and then implementing the appropriate action. (2)

Solving problems
In recognising where corrective action is required and then implementing the appropriate action. (2)

Using technology
In calculating and scheduling supplementary feed requirements. (1)

Using technology
In calculating and scheduling supplementary feed requirements. (1)